Artificial muscle actuators

Abstract

An actuator device that includes a conducting material and at least one fuse incorporated into the conducting material is disclosed. The at least one fuse may stop current flow for temperatures above a specific temperature. The actuator device may also include a series of electronics that determine whether the actuating device has blown the at least one fuse.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An actuator device, comprising:
 an artificial muscle fiber; 
 a conducting wire disposed on and wound around an outer surface of the artificial muscle fiber; and 
 at least one fuse incorporated into the conducting wire and provided on the outer surface of the artificial muscle fiber. 
 
     
     
       2. The actuator device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuse stops current flow for a temperature above a specific temperature. 
     
     
       3. The actuator device of  claim 2 , wherein the specific temperature is less than a glass transition temperature of the artificial muscle fiber of the actuator device. 
     
     
       4. The actuator device of  claim 2 , wherein, after the temperature has exceeded the specific temperature, the at least one fuse resumes current flow when the temperature drops below the specific temperature. 
     
     
       5. The actuator device of  claim 4 , wherein, after the temperature has exceeded the specific temperature, the at least one fuse re-hardens when the temperature drops below the specific temperature. 
     
     
       6. The actuator device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that determines whether the actuator device has blown the at least one fuse. 
     
     
       7. The actuator device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuse comprises a material that melts at a specific temperature.